VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
[This review was originally posted at Patreon.]
STORY: Riichiro Inagaki
ART: Boichi
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0261-9; paperback (September 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.
Dr. Stone is a shonen manga from writer Riichiro Inagaki and artist Boichi. Inagaki is a manga writer known for his work on the series, Eyeshield 21. “Boichi” is the pen name of manhwa artist, Mujik Park, a Korean-born artist living and working in Japan. Set thousands of years in the future, Dr. Stone focuses on the efforts of two friends to revive human civilization. The manga began serialization in a March 2017 issue of Japan's manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump. VIZ Media is publishing the manga as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Dr. Stone.
Dr. Stone, Vol. 1 (Stone World; Chapters 1 to 7) introduces Taiju Oki and Senku. Taiju is petrified of admitting to fellow high school student, Yuzuriha, that he loves her. His friend, Senku, is a high school science prodigy who watches Taiju's pitiful efforts with disdain.
Suddenly, one fateful day, a blinding flash petrifies everyone, turning every human into a statue, and civilization gradually falls apart. Then, one day Taiju reawakens, bursting from his stone shell, but he is shocked to discover that it is 3700 years later! And he is not alone, as Senku has been up and running for over half a year. Now, the two must kick-start civilization, which will not be easy, even with the power of science.
The Dr. Stone manga is an odd shonen manga. For some reason, I keep thinking of Hanna-Barbera's long-running animated television franchise, “The Flintstones.”
Dr. Stone Graphic Novel Volume 1 reveals this manga as a something quite unique. Writer Riichiro Inagaki offers a compelling story, a far-flung future that is the setting for the rebirth of humanity. He presents engaging characters – two teen friends who form one of the most delightful opposites-attract duos that you will find in comics.
Boichi's richly detailed artwork is pretty and also makes for some attractive graphical storytelling. Boichi also manages to make the real world scientific principles Inagaki's presents in this story something like eye-candy storytelling. I am surprised. I did not think what to make of this series, but there is potential here, especially because it has an interesting take on the villain...
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint syndication rights and fees.
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